认真 (rènzhēn) — serious / earnest

认真 (rènzhēn)

认真 means serious, earnest, or conscientious. It describes an attitude of careful dedication and thoroughness rather than a somber or grave mood. To 认真 do something means to do it with full attention and effort.

Meanings

1. [adjective] Serious; earnest; conscientious; diligent; careful.
2. [adverb] Seriously; earnestly (used as a manner adverb before verbs).

Example Sentences

他学习非常认真。 Tā xuéxí fēicháng rènzhēn. He studies very seriously.

做事要认真，不能马虎。 Zuò shì yào rènzhēn, bù néng mǎhu. You must be earnest in your work; you cannot be careless.

老师认真地批改每一本作业。 Lǎoshī rènzhēn de pīgǎi měi yī běn zuòyè. The teacher carefully corrected every homework book.

她认真听着，没有漏掉一个字。 Tā rènzhēn tīngzhe, méiyǒu lòudiào yī gè zì. She listened earnestly and did not miss a single word.

Collocations

Memory Hook

认 means to recognize or acknowledge, and 真 means true or real. 认真 is to acknowledge something as truly real and worthy of your full attention. When you 认真, you treat the task as genuinely important, not something to brush off.